Bad News Overload

So very sorry to hear this news about Flurry and the floods. I would be shell shocked too, this is family. Flurry has our heart filled best wishes we all know how this would affect us and we can empathize how this must be for you. Keep us posted.
 
We made the 90-minute trip to the dental specialist this morning, who told me she can't do the surgery on Flurry's jaw because of the complexity. She's a small practice, and we need a facility with a CT scan and a surgeon. This was in a way good news to me, since our local emergency/specialty clinic is 10 minutes from my house with the best surgeons in the area. They did Ruffles' gallbladder surgery two years ago, and we've been to them for other things. I came home and called them and to my shock since everyone is booking months out here, got an appointment with their head Oncology vet who founded the practice for this Wednesday morning.

The dental vet also gave me more information on these tumors. Although I've heard horror stories about how they always return, she said if the surgery is done well and they get all the compromised bone, the prognosis is good and the dog is fine. It's the first real hope I've had that we may get through this.

One more interesting point....in my research on ameloblastoma tumors, I learned that Shelties are one of three breeds prone to these tumors. Just in case the gallbladders weren't enough. Something else to be aware of, if you see swelling in your dog's mouth.

And finally, I wince every month at the rising cost of the insurance premiums I pay, but this is when it proves its worth. This surgery will be wildly expensive, and it would be a hard choice to make on retirement income. But because I have it, maybe Flurry can be saved.
 
We met with the surgeon yesterday morning, and they kept her for the day to do the CT scan. I just got the report this morning. The damage seems to be limited to the area of one tooth, which is good news and what she thought would be the case when we talked yesterday. Surgery is recommended, and I'll set that up today. This surgeon has done many of these and said they're "very curable" and the dog does fine afterward, which is a huge relief.

This morning I'm off to take Ruffles in for her post-op checkup. I've been at a vet's office every day this week since Monday! At least our roads are finally open again!
 
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